Constitute MCZMA at the earliest, Bombay HC tells eco ministry

With the absence of an authority since March 6 leaving several proposals stuck, the Bombay high court (HC) has now asked the environment ministry to constitute the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) at the earliest.

With the absence of an authority since March 6 leaving several proposals stuck, the Bombay high court (HC) has now asked the environment ministry to constitute the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) at the earliest.

Buildarch Land Developers had approached the court, stating their proposal for redevelopment of two small plots at Shivaji Park was not being considered for coastal zone clearance by the MCZMA. The counsel for the developer, senior advocate Ravi Kadam, pointed out that although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has given its nod on January 30, 2015, the developer cannot go ahead with the project in the absence of an NOC from the authority.

Kadam said the 20 families occupying the dilapidated buildings constructed more than 75 years ago are eagerly awaiting redevelopment.

Responding to the petition, MCZMA counsel, advocate Sharmila Deshmukh, said the term of the earlier MCZMA ended on March 6, after which the authority has not been reconstituted.

The division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Girish Kulkarni recently issued a notice to the MoEF, directing the Union ministry to constitute the authority as expeditiously as possible. The court also took note of the fact that the MCZMA receives around 100 proposals a month for CRZ clearance from the entire state, and the inaction of the MoEF caused serious prejudice and hardships to the people at large.